Steam engine



April 15, 1958 M. MALLORY STEAM ENGINE Filed D90. 10. 1953 12:1 IMJE 1 s P INVENTOR.

, name MAI-LORY BY- 2 A-r'romllf.

United States Patent STEAM ENGINE Marlon Mallory, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 10, 1953, Serial No. 397,401 Claims. (Cl. 60-27) This invention relates to steam engines of the type disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 388,124, filed October 26, 1953, of which this application may be considered a continuation in part.

An object of the invention is to improve the steam engine disclosed in my said co-pending application. In that disclosure, I illustrate an engine which is constructed and arranged so that steam is generated in the cylinder during a substantial portion of the travel of the piston on the power stroke, the pressure is then partially relieved in the cylinder, and the residual steam trapped in the cylinder is compressed on the compression stroke of the piston.

I now propose an improved form of the engine, which improved form is constructed and arranged so that steam can be generated during a substantial portion of the power stroke of the piston, and a vacuum can be developed in the cylinder during a substantial portion of the travel of the piston on the non-power stroke, after all of the steam has been evacuated from the cylinder. In this improved structure, the intensity of the fire and the volume of water injected into the cylinder may be controlled and varied in accordance with the demands of the engine, as in the original disclosure.

The instant invention, therefore, resides in the particular combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described.

I am aware of the fact that others have used valves to control the admission of steam to the work cylinder and to release the steam from the work cylinder during the power stroke of the piston, but to my knowledge, no one has ever employed a self contained, externally heated work cylinder with means to generate steam in the work cylinder, during a substantial portion of travel of the piston on the powerstroke, and after the exhaustion of the steam from the cylinder, to create a vacuum in the cylinder during a substantial portion of the travel of the piston on the non-power stroke, that is, between lower dead center and upper dead center of the crank.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the invention to provide an engine of the character indicated, which is constructed and arranged with an externally heated work cylinder having a piston reciproca-ble therein, with means for timed injection of water into the externally heated cylinder on the power stroke of the piston, and means for creating a vacuum in the cylinder during a substantial portion of the travel of the piston on the return or nonpower stroke of the piston.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which is constructed and arranged whereby steam may be generated in the work cylinder at the start of the travel of the engine crank from approximate upper dead center and continues to be generated for approximately 120 degrees of travel of the crank on the power stroke of the piston, and is arranged so that the steam so developed may be exhausted from the cylinder during approximately the next 120 degrees 2,830,435 Patented Apr. 15, 1988 of travel of said crank, and arranged so that a vacuum may be developed in the said cylinder during the last degrees of travel of said crank on the non-power stroke of said piston.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which is constructed and arranged so that steam can be generated in the work cylinder of the engine and then can be exhausted from the cylinder, and a vacuum can be developed in the work cylinder all in timed sequence and responsive to the speed of the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an engine of the character indicated, which is provided with independent means for pulling a vacuum in the work cylinder of the engine during a predetermined portion of the travel of the piston in said work cylinder.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing forming part of the within dis closure, in which drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section, with parts broken away, taken through an engine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a graphic chart illustrating the timing of the engine shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be understood that in the embodiment herein disclosed, the reference character 7 indicates a wall of the cylinder, which is provided with a dome like steam generating head 8, both of which are substantially surrounded by a fire chamber 9, having an inlet 10 and outlet 11, which fire chamber is constructed and functions much in the manner disclosed in my co-pending application hereinabove referred to. Water is injected into the dome 8 through an injector 12 and water line 13. The generation of heat in the chamber 9 and the injection of water into the cylinder head 8 are timed and controlled as more particularly described in my co-pending application.

Reciprocable in the cylinder 7 is a piston 11, having a connecting rod 15 and a crank 16. Steam is exhausted from the cylinder 7 through a port 17, which communicates with the steam exhaust line 18. A vacuum is created on the interior of the cylinder 7--8 by means of an exhaust pump 19, which is driven by any suitable means, and which communicates with the interior of the cylinder 7-8 through the pipes 20 and a passageway 21 formed in the cylinder wall. A valve seat 22 is provided at the inner end of the passageway 21 and is arranged to be closed by the poppet valve 23, which reciprocates in a valve guide 24 formed in the wall of the engine, which poppet valve 23 is normally held closed by means of a spring 25, and is forced open against the pressure of the spring 25 by means of a rocker arm 26, which is pivoted, as at 27, and is rocked by means of a push rod 28, which is actuated by a tappet 29, which rides on a cam 30, the latter being driven by a cam shaft 31, which is driven by the engine as in conventional practice. The length of the push rod 28 may be adjusted, as at 32.

Although I have indicated in the time chart, Fig. 2, a suggested timing of the engine, it will be understood that the timing of the engine may be varied from that shown on the chart, all of which is within the contemplation of the invention.

The operation of the engine is 'as follows:

The engine is started, and the heat is developed andwater into the dome 8. The cam shaft 31 preferably rotates at the same speed of rotation as the crank 16. Upon the injection of water into the heated dome 8, steam is instantly generated in said dome in the manner taught in my said co-pending application. The pressure of the steam so generated is exerted on the piston 11, causing it to move. The injection of water and the consequent generation of steam in the dome 8 and the cylinder 7 preferably continues," as shown in Fig. 2, for approximately 120 degrees of the travel of the crank 16, although it is within the contemplation of the invention to increase or decrease the timing of this injection.

It will be understood that as the injection of water into the heated cylinder 7-8 continues, steam pressure in the cylinder is built up rapidly, even though the piston is moving away from the dome portion 8. Immediately after the termination of the water injection, the port 17 opens to completely exhaust the steam from the cylinder 7. This port 17 remains open, preferably for approximately 120 degrees of travel of the crank 16, during which travel the crank passes through lower dead center and the piston starts on its upward travel on the nonpower stroke. Upon the closing of the port 17, the push rod 28 is actuated by the cam 30.to rock the arm 26 and move the valve 23 out of contact with the seat 22,

approximately 120 degrees of travel of the crank 16, and

the valve 23 closes at approximately the instant the crank 16 is in the position of upper dead center, at which instant the water injection again commences and the cycle is repeated.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that I have disclosed a steam engine which internally generates steam during a portion of the power stroke of the piston, exhausts the steam immediately after the termination of the steam generation, and then by external means, pulls a vacuum in the cylinder, during a predetermined portion of the travel of the piston in the cylinder, all during a single revolution of the crank.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A steam engine of the character described, comprising a combination, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, means to externally heat all surfaces of said cylinder simultaneously, timed means to inject water into said cylinder on the power stroke of said piston, an

exhaust port in said cylinder positioned to be opened by said piston on the power stroke of said piston, and a valve in the wall of said cylinder for controlling communication between a vacuum pump and the interior of said cylinder, said valve being timed to open on the non-power stroke of said piston.

2. The structure of claim 1, including means responsive to the speed of the engine for actuating said valve.

3. A steam engine of the character described, comprising in combination, a cylinder having a dome like "head, a piston reciprocals-1e in said cylinder, means for injecting water into said head, means for externally heating simultaneously all surfaces of said cylinder including said head, means responsive to the speed of the engine for controlling said injection means and said heating means, and a valve responsive to the speed of the engine reciprocable in the wall of the cylinder, said valve being arranged to open and close a vacuum passageway communicating between said cylinder and a power driven vacuum pump.

4. The structure of claim 3, including means for opening said valve during the non-power stroke of said piston in said cylinder.

5. The structure of claim 3, including an exhaust port in the wall of said cylinder positioned to be opened and closed by the said piston when said valve is normally closed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 745,703 Westinghouse Dec. 1, 1903 1,014,078 McGuire Jan. 9, 1912 1,092,017 Caron Mar. 31, 1914 1,211,965 Roehrich Jan. 9, 1917 1,226,500 Fuehler May 15, 1917 1,755,501 Christensen Apr. 22, 1930 1,902,020 Ewing Mar. 21, 1933 2,047,928 Haring July 14, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 209,730 Germany May 15, 1909 1,534 Great Britain Jan. 20, 1911 310,450 Germany Jan. 23, 1919 143,812 Great Britain June 3, 1920 165,263 Great Britain June 30, 1921 349,628 Great Britain June 4, 1931 546,256 France Aug. 17, 1922 732,139 France June 6, 1932 243,903 Switzerland Feb. 17, 1947 

